A Man in His 50s Sets Himself on Fire Near the Corruption Investigation Office Amid Yoon's Arrest, Dies Six Days Later

Suspected of Arson at Democratic Party Headquarters
Case to Be Closed as 'No Prosecution' Even If Suspect Is Identified

On the 15th, when President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested on charges of insurrection, a man in his 50s who self-immolated near the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI) is located, died on the sixth day after the incident.

On the 20th at around 2:34 p.m., A, who was seriously injured in the self-immolation incident, died while receiving treatment at a specialized burn hospital in Seoul, according to Yonhap News Agency on the same day. A set himself on fire using a flammable substance around 8:05 p.m. on the 15th in a green area near the Government Complex Gwacheon where HOCI is located, suffering third-degree burns all over his body. He remained unconscious throughout treatment and eventually passed away after six days.

On the 15th, when the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol was executed, a man set himself on fire near the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, where the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Huga) is located. Police and firefighters are investigating the scene. Joint coverage. Photo by Yonhap News.

Earlier, A was a suspect in arson related to a fire that broke out around 12:11 a.m. on the same day in a vacant lot next to the Democratic Party Central Office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of its outbreak, and aside from some scorching on the building's exterior wall, there was no other damage. The police kept open the possibility that someone deliberately set the fire and conducted a preliminary investigation before formal charges by securing CCTV footage around the scene.

At around 6 a.m. on the same day, A also attempted self-immolation near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, but was stopped by the police. At that time, A reportedly stated to the police that he was angry because "Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was not arrested, but the sitting president was being arrested."

According to police tracking of his movements, A was identified as having attended a rally opposing President Yoon’s impeachment following the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.' No clues such as a suicide note explaining the motive for the self-immolation have been found.

A police official told Yonhap News Agency, "It is true that A has died, but we cannot disclose any other details," adding, "In the case of the Democratic Party office arson incident, even if the investigation confirms that A was responsible, the case is expected to be closed with 'no prosecution' due to his death."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.